Shaana A. Rahman
San Francisco, CA 94104
415.956.9245
Paso Robles CA 93446
805.619.3108
Shaana A. Rahman is the principal and founder of Rahman Law PC. Ms. Rahman is an accomplished and experienced civil trial attorney. She handles personal injury cases in which someone has been hurt or killed in a collision or other accident. Ms. Rahman also represents plaintiffs in legal malpractice litigation. As a cyclist and an active member of the Bay Area and Central Coast bicycle communities, Ms. Rahman devotes a large part of her practice to representing injured cyclists. Part of Ms. Rahman’s practice also includes actions against public entities such as the City and County of San Francisco in cases that involve dangerous conditions of public property or negligence of public entity employees, such as bus drivers, public works departments and city engineers.
Ms. Rahman is a member of The Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a nationwide group of trial lawyers whose advocacy has resulted in settlements and/or verdicts in one or more cases with an individual value in excess of $2,000,000.00. She has been recognized as a Super Lawyer for Northern California, the Top 40 Under 40 attorneys, a Top 100 Trial Lawyer, and was honored as a Preeminent Woman Lawyer by Martindale Hubbell.
Ms. Rahman has litigated hundreds of legal matters from inception to resolution as lead trial counsel. These cases include high profile cases. In addition to having successfully concluded cases through jury and bench trials, Ms. Rahman is skilled in resolving matters prior to trial and has achieved significant settlements for her clients pre-litigation as well as through arbitration and mediation, including a number of seven-figure settlements.
Prior to devoting her current practice exclusively to those who have been injured or wronged, Ms. Rahman worked for insurance companies, defending individuals and companies accused of negligence or wrongdoing. Ms. Rahman’s prior practice focused primarily on the defense of commercial truck drivers and construction related litigation which included defending general and sub-contractors in contractual disputes, injury litigation and construction defect matters. During this period of her practice, Ms. Rahman amassed important knowledge of the inner-workings of insurance companies that has aided her in her current practice in favorably resolving cases for her clients. Ms. Rahman has authored many legal articles on the subject of personal injury litigation and trial practice.
Education
Ms. Rahman received her law degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 1997. Ms. Rahman graduated with distinction as a Public Interest Law Scholar and was awarded a coveted scholarship from the Public Interest Law Foundation.
Prior to attending law school, in 1993 Ms. Rahman received a B.S. in Political Science from Santa Clara University. While at Santa Clara, Ms. Rahman was President of the Political Science Student Association as well as the Speech and Debate Association. Ms. Rahman was the recipient of an academic scholarship at Santa Clara.
Awards and Recognitions
Top Rated Personal Injury Attorney, Avvo (2017-2019)
The Avvo Rating for personal injury attorneys is calculated using experience, associations, legal community recognition, and legal thought leadership including publications and speaking engagements to rate attorneys from 1 to 10. Avvo has information on 97% of attorneys in the United States. The Superb Rating (10/10) is the top Avvo Rating for personal injury attorneys. Read more…
Best Personal Injury Lawyers in San Francisco, Expertise (2017-2018)
Expertise researches and selects the top service professionals in cities across the United States. For their list of the top 20 personal injury lawyers they consider to be the best in San Francisco, Expertise scored personal injury lawyers across five categories (reputation, credibility, experience, availability, and professionalism) with more than 25 variables including customer satisfaction ratings and recommendations, accreditations, awards, education and experience, responsiveness to both clients and new business, and dedication to quality. Read more…
America’s Most Honored Professionals 2019 – Top 1%, American Registry (2015-2019)
The American Registry is a data driven cross profession, cross industry recognition program. Each professional has earned multiple recognitions in his or her field in the last five years and ranks in the top ten, five, or even one percent of all of America’s most highly recognized professionals. Read more…
Top 100 Trial Lawyer, National Trial Lawyers (2013-2019)
Each of our distinguished Top 100 members possesses the knowledge, skill, experience and success held by only the best and finest lawyers in America. By combining resources, power, and influence, The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 is devoted to preserving and protecting justice for all. Selection is based on a thorough multi-phase objective and uniformly applied process which includes peer nominations combined with third-party research. Membership is extended only to the select few of the most qualified attorneys from each state or region who demonstrate superior qualifications of leadership, reputation, influence, stature and public profile measured by objective and uniformly applied standards in compliance with state bar and national Rule 4-7. Read more…
Northern California Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers® (2012-2019)
Only 5% of attorneys are selected for the Super Lawyers List within each region. The Super Lawyers rating service reviews attorneys in a variety of practice areas broken down by region and makes their selections based on professional achievements, independent research, peer-recognition, and peer-evaluations. To remain within the top 5% as a Super Lawyer for eleven years is an accomplishment to be proud of for any personal injury attorney in Northern California. Read more…
Top 40 under 40, The National Trial Lawyers (2011)
The National Trial Lawyers: Top 40 under 40 is a professional organization composed of the top trial lawyers from each state or region who are under the age of 40. Membership is extended solely to the select few of the most qualified attorneys from each state who demonstrate superior qualifications of leadership, reputation, influence, stature and public profile measured by objective and uniformly applied standards in compliance with state bar and national Rule 4-7. Invitees must exemplify superior qualifications, trial results, and leadership as a young lawyer under the age of 40. Selection is based on a thorough multi-phase objective process which includes peer nominations combined with third-party research. Read more…
Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Million Dollar Advocates Forum 2010-present
The Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum make up one of the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers in the United States. Membership is limited to attorneys who have won million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. Fewer than 1% of U.S. lawyers are members. Read more…
AV Preeminent Woman Lawyer, Martindale-Hubbell (2010-2019)
AV Preeminent is the highest level of professional excellence peer review rating facilitated by Martindale-Hubbell®. This rating signifies that a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills, and ethical standards. Read more…
Northern California’s Outstanding Young Lawyers, San Francisco Magazine’s Best Of (2010-2011)
The annual “Best of” issue of San Francisco Magazine features its list of top businesses in the Bay Area including the list of the Outstanding Young Lawyers for the region of Northern California. Read more…
Northern California Rising Stars, Super Lawyers® (2009-2011)
Only 2.5% of attorneys within each region make it to the Rising Stars List from Super Lawyers. To be eligible for inclusion in Rising Stars, a candidate must be either 40 years old or younger or in practice for 10 years or less. Super Lawyers conducts independent research to evaluate candidates on twelve indicators: verdicts/settlements; transactions; representative clients; experience; honors/awards; special licenses/certifications; position within the law firm; bar and/or professional activity; pro bono and community service; scholarly lectures/writings; education/employment background; other outstanding achievements. Read more…
The State’s Outstanding Young Lawyers, San Francisco Magazine’s Best Of (2009)
The annual “Best of” issue of San Francisco Magazine features its list of top businesses in the Bay Area including the list of the Outstanding Young Lawyers (previously for the state of California, but now for the region of Northern California). Read more…
Published Works, Media Reports and Speaking Engagements
Ms. Rahman has extensively published articles in the areas of personal injury, roadway defects and civil trial practice and is a frequent lecturer on the topics of litigation strategy and skills. Ms. Rahman’s verdicts and settlements have been reported in the San Francisco Examiner, The San Francisco Chronicle, Trial Lawyer magazine and The Daily Journal. She has interviewed and quoted in numerous media reports on the subjects of pedestrian, bicyclist and motorist safety:
Published Works & Media Reports
- The Co-Opting Of Bike Culture By “Scooter-Share” Companies: A look at this new, loosely regulated yet inherently dangerous industry and the law effective January 2021. Shaana Rahman, February, 2021
- Sidewalks: The often neglected people movers that injure pedestrians, often from defects the defense calls trivial. Shaana Rahman, July, 2017
- Bike Bias In Jury Selection And Using Challenge For Cause: In trial, driver attitudes towards cyclists can be a barrier to justice. Shaana Rahman, January, 2017
- Speed Kills: The road to stopping pedestrian fatalities begins with the speed limit. Shaana Rahman, July, 2016
- Diversity – Making It More Than Just A Buzzword: A plan for increasing diversity and the motivation for taking action. Shaana Rahman, November 2015
- Profile: Shaana Rahman: Trial lawyer pays her dues, makes her own success and shows others the way. by Stephen Ellison, Plaintiff Magazine, October 2014
- Shaana Rahman on KGO Radio: Cyclist to Be Charged in Woman’s Death (audio),
November 15, 2011 - Shaana Rahman on KGO Radio: Cyclist to Be Charged in Woman’s Death (article)
November 15, 2011 - No Charges for Driver in Death of Bicyclist Amelie Le Moullac
Bryan Goebel, May 13, 2014 - Legal System Fails Again: No Charges for Trucker Who Killed Amelie
by Aaron Bialick, Streetsblog, May 14, 2014 - Shaana Rahman on NPR: Chuck Finney “Know Your Rights” The Importance of Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Insurance Coverage August 17, 2013
- Wanted – Women Trial Lawyers: While women are well represented in law schools, the disparity in the numbers of men and women trial lawyers continues. Shaana Rahman, February 2013
- A Surge in Ridership and a Spate of Deadly Crashes
by Zusha Elison, Bay Citizen, February 17, 2012 - After Outcry, SFPD to Cite Driver Who Ran Over Man in Tenderloin
by Aaron Bialick, Streetsblog, February 24, 2012 - Will DA Gascón Reform the Double Standard for Drivers Who Kill?
by Aaron Bialick, Streetsblog, December 20, 2011 - Bike Law 101 – Four Tips For Representing Cyclists: The growing numbers of urban cyclists create focus on the laws affecting cyclist versus motorist collisions. Shaana Rahman, May, 2011
Speaking Engagements
- Litigating MUNI Cases
Shaana A. Rahman. (San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, May 2018) - Trial Skills: Voir Dire
Shaana A. Rahman. (San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, May 2017) - Women Biking and the Law
Shaana A. Rahman. (San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, October 2016) - Litigating Bad Faith Claims Against Insurance Companies
Shaana A. Rahman. (San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, June 2014) - Eliminating Bias in the Legal Profession- Moderator
Shaana A. Rahman. (San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, October 25, 2011) - Strategies and Timing of Depositions in Multiple Defendant Cases – Speaker
Shaana A. Rahman. (San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, October 19, 2010) - Deposition Skills – Instructor
Shaana A. Rahman. (National Institute of Trial Advocacy, October 15-17, 2010) - Building Trial Skills – Instructor
Shaana A. Rahman. (National Institute of Trial Advocacy, June 24-27, 2010) - Pre-Trial Proceedings – Speaker
Shaana A. Rahman. (Lorman Education Services, June 16, 2009) - Deposition Skills – Instructor
Shaana A. Rahman. (National Institute of Trial Advocacy, October 11, 2008) - Preparing for and Completing Depositions of Persons Most Qualified – Speaker
Shaana A. Rahman. (State Bar of California 81st Annual Meeting, September 26, 2008) - Litigating MUNI Cases: Perspectives from Both Sides of the Fence – Speaker
Shaana A. Rahman. (San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, May 27, 200.) - Focus Groups: Six Keys to Success – Speaker
Shaana A. Rahman. (San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, November 27, 2007) - Two-Wheeled Single Vehicle Collisions – Speaker
Shaana A. Rahman. (San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, Summer 2007)
Professional Memberships
Ms. Rahman serves on the Board of Directors for the California Olive Oil Council. She is a member and sponsor of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, Bike East Bay, the Marin County Bicycle Coalition, and the San Luis Obispo County Bike Coalition. In the past she has also been on the Board of Directors of Walk San Francisco and the the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association
Other Passions
Ms. Rahman is dedicated to mentoring law students and new attorneys. As the former Chair of the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association’s Diversity Committee, she founded the Trial Advocacy Diversity Fellowship, a mentoring program which provides paid fellowships to diverse law students and pairs the students with Bay Area law firms to teach them how to become skilled trial lawyers. In the past several years the program has gained wide recognition and continues to successfully educate diverse law students.
Awards
Ms. Rahman’s awards include being one of the Top 20 Personal Injury Lawyers in San Francisco by Expertise in 2017 and 2018, selection by Super Lawyers 11 times, a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, recognized as a Top 40 under 40 Attorney by The National Trial Lawyers, receiving Martindale-Hubbell’s AV Preeminent® (the Highest Level of Professional Excellence) peer review rating based on the opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary, and Avvo’s Rating of Superb as a Top Rated Personal Injury Attorney by client reviews.